Help! Wheel - tire damage...options!

You MUST replace the tire with the bubble in it. The bubble is more of an aneurysm than a hematoma. The sidewall is thinner at the damaged area and can blow out at high speeds, or when stress is put on it.
As far as rim repair goes, there are some rim shops that will repair rims, and they come out looking as good as new most of the time! I had one wheel done on my wifes car, it wasn't bent, but it had to get refinished. They charged me $120.
I also recently purchased spare tire for my Ferrari off of Ebay, it has a perfect finish, but there is a slight bend in the outer rim. I called my local shop and asked how much to straighten it. He told me most repairs usually are around $130. Based on my experience as well as other stories that I've heard, I feel that a good rim repair shop will make your rim as good as new, for a reasonable price. The only problem I can see is if there is a custom colored powder coating, or pin stripe. I'm not sure how accurately they will be able to match it (it will be perfect if you supply them with the color code). If you don't have the code, and they can't match it, your only option may be to refinish all 4 wheels (probably still cheaper than 1 new rim!). You didn't mention in your post if the finish was damaged, or if the wheel was bent, or scraped, or both. If the wheel is bent, and the finish is not harmed, they may be able to straighten it without damaging the paint. that would be a best case scenario, and it shouldn't cost too much. I think pictures of the damage would help a lot. you can probably also send the pictures to a rim repair shop and get estimates.
Good luck!

 

If you can't find a wheel repair guy, all your local dealer. The dealers don't even do the wheel work....they sub it out. And the repairs are done fast (read overnight). Don't sweat this....it is generally a pretty standard thing.

 

PM me if you are in Phoenix. I have a guy who will make your wheel look like brand new at little cost! He has done many of my wheels....perfect!

 

Seriously, how have you all passed the opportunity to make a "subtile" rim job joke ?

 

It makes me crazy when I see very expensive supposeidly strong rims get bent hittting a pot hole (at least that is probably what it was).

I guess with the more narrow tire there is less sidewall to absorb the force.

 

that appears to be a flat spot. Some are repairable and some arent. I think the aforementioned $130.00 is low for what you may have to go through...expect more like $200.00 if they can fix it.

I have a guy here in NorCal too if your search for a place doesnt work out - he would be able to straighten it, and paint it with a color match if that becomes a requirement.

 

Looks very odd. I think I can see the damage to the wheel all right - looks quite minor actually. I'd say by all means have a wheel repair shop look at it but sometimes the cure is worse than the disease and personally I think I'd probably drive on with that particular wheel.

The tyre looks odd though. Has it lost pressure? I was expecting a bubble pushing out but (maybe it's just me or the photo playing tricks?) it looks as though the "bubble" is concave rather than convex. Is it?

 

Actually I wasn't recommending cheaping out in terms on continuing to drive, I suspect that the repair could weaken the wheel or kill it off altogether but that it can continue to give perfectly good service as it is. I'd suggest you put the new tyre on it and see a) does it balance up without a lot of weights and b) does the car drive fine with no perceptible vibration and then make your call.

Tyres? MPSS and RE11 seem to be the two higher-end tyres that are constantly recommended these days. RE11 slightly better in the dry MPSS slighty better in the wet.

 

A quick look at your pic and it seems like your tire is gone...

As far as the rim is concerned, any decent rim place can easily fix it...

Get it fixed at the same time you replace the tire... You should be done within an hour or less...

Why drive with a bent rim ?

I've seen rims being straightened in front of me and it seemed like a piece of cake...

They just warm it up and straighten with a special hammer...

This is the only way to get you wheels perfectly balanced !

P.S. you are lucky because there is no need for painting the rim, since the damage is minor !
P.S.2 if your tires are new you can get away with just one tire... otherwise, unfortunately, both !